The family comes first during a hands-on celebration of history, culture, and cuisine on your customized family-friendly tour of Spain and Italy. Travel back in time wandering narrow medieval streets. Enjoy the flavors of refined ingredients when learning to make traditional, kid-friendly dishes. Indulge in the tremendous views of Renaissance masterpieces and join in the fun of sparring like an ancient gladiator. Barcelona becomes a surrealist playground with the architecture of Gaudí and Rome...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Barcelona – Arrive in Barcelona with a Walking Tour of La Rambla
The vibrant spirit of Catalonia fills the capital city of Barcelona with captivating sunshine, gorgeous lapping waters from the Mediterranean Sea, and an Old-World charm emanating from the Gothic Quarter. Your family-friendly adventure in Barcelona begins with your arrival at Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Your private guide escorts the family to the heart of the city reflected in the tree-shaded avenue of La Rambla, which divides the historic section into two distinct parts. Take your time getting acquainted with the welcoming ambiance featured on the boulevard where locals sip red wine or coffee in the cafes, peer through the windows of boutique shops, and dine on classic Catalonia dishes in the popular restaurants.
The 12th-century Romanesque façade of the Convent of Santa Anna contains hints of renovation from the 15th century in the Gothic styles of the roof and cloister. The stunning aroma of freshly grilled prawns with garlic drifts through the doors of Mercat de la Boqueria, one of the oldest and most colorful markets in Spain. Fishmongers, butchers, cheesemongers, and produce vendors fill the aisles of the bustling marketplace, while celebrated restaurants serve ham sandwiches and delicious Spanish cheeses made from sheep’s milk. You continue to the Plaça Reial, where the palm trees fringe the public square between the smattering of historic home and elegant arcades. The Fountain of the Three Graces stands at the heart of the plaza with allegorical figures signifying charm, beauty, and fertility.
What's Included:
Day 2
Barcelona – La Sagrada Familia, Parque Güell and Barri Gotic
Day 3
Barcelona – The Monastery of Montserrat and Enjoy a Tapas Class
Day 4
Florence – See the Leaning Tower before Discovering Florence
Day 5
Florence – Accademia Gallery and Delight in a Gelato Tour
Day 6
Rome – Orvieto and Visit Rome’s Famous Monuments
Day 7
Rome – Gladiator Lesson before Touring the Colosseum and Forum
Day 8
Rome – History and Art in the Vatican before a Pizza Class
Day 9
Rome – The Unique Preserved Historical Sites of Tivoli
Day 10
Rome – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- View the fascinating and distinctive surreal architectural design elements of Antoni Gaudí when visiting the massive undertaking of La Sagrada Familia
- Witness the remarkable size and specific details bringing Michelangelo’s famous sculpture David to life when inside the Accademia Gallery
- Join the children in learning how to be a gladiator with a lesson in Rome offering a fun angle on the legendary warriors before visiting the Colosseum
- Step back in time in the preserved Gothic architecture shaping the medieval neighborhood of Barcelona’s Barri Gotic
- Sample the fabulous flavors of gelato on a guided tour in Florence and visit the oldest gelateria in the city
- Learn the art of making traditional Roman pizza with a private chef helping the kids make the perfect creation for their specific tastes
- Enjoy the adventure of traversing the elaborate halls of the Vatican Museums to view Egyptian artifacts and priceless artwork like frescoes by Raphael
- Engage with the remarkable history of Pisa by visiting the distinctive Leaning Tower in the Piazza dei Miracoli
- Relish the simple pleasures of quality ingredients during a family-friendly tapas cooking class crafting delicious traditional Catalonian cuisine
Detailed Description
Michelangelo and Gaudí, the Colosseum and La Sagrada Familia embody the splendors Barcelona and Rome during your 8-day family-friendly Spain and Italy tour. The captivating cities retain their sense of majesty amid a deluge of popular European destinations due to their respective preserved histories, proud heritages, and sensational architectural gems creating an elaborate atmosphere both kids and adults enjoy. The best family vacations hide education beneath layers of fun activities bringing to light the immersive joys of traveling and the fantastic discoveries you will make when visiting Barcelona, Montserrat, Pisa, Florence, and Rome.
The Mediterranean setting of Barcelona accentuates the architectural charms and Catalonian heritage separating the renowned city from the culture of greater Spain. The city brings a tremendous adventure of medieval streets, fantastic frescoes, and delicious local foods, topped with the surrealist architecture of the city’s favorite son, Antonin Gaudí. Your special guided tours provide great insight into the artistic and political history of Barcelona. Your exploration extends from visiting La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell and participating in a tapas cooking class in which the family can learn new and thrilling recipes to take back home.
Arriving in Italy only increases the sensational historic atmosphere, artistic allure, and culinary charisma. Tuscany reveals a slower pace than the capital city of Rome in a region paying attention to the importance of enjoying the day, whether with a stroll, a glass of wine, a flavorful snack, or spending time in Pisa to witness the Leaning Tower. Florence is the capital of Tuscany and retains its image for supporting the Italian Renaissance historically, architecturally, and artistically. Two nights in Florence allow enough time for the family to wander the sensational narrow lanes and maze-like design leading to the Duomo and historic Old Palace. Traversing the museums give close-up views of renowned artworks by Renaissance masters including Michelangelo, while sampling the best gelato in the city gives the entire family a sweet treat at the end of the day.
Four nights in Rome provide enough time to enjoy the sensational collection of art, history, and food in the capital of Italy at a comfortable pace. Rome’s splendor emerges from the seemingly endless museums, marvelous ruins, and inventive ways in which the family can experience every detail the city offers. You can gain a different insight into the history of the Colosseum with a kid-friendly gladiator class and find a variety of flavors for traditional Roman pizza deriving from a 2,000-year-old tradition. Indulge in the mystique of ancient Egypt at the Vatican Museum and follow in the footsteps of a Roman emperor in Tivoli when visiting Hadrian’s Villa.
Starting Price
$4,200 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.9 stars based on 8428 reviews.
Zicasso’s travel company was wonderful in planning our trip on short notice and in line with our requests and preferences. Their suggestions of what to do and where to stay were perfect. And when we accidentally got off on the wrong island, the travel company quickly got us new ferry tickets to get to the right place. It was all seamless.
Reviewed By Sherry G.
This trip was the greatest week of our lives! Everything planned was better than I could have imagined. The private drivers being coordinated behind the scenes made the trip so easy and removed all the stress of trying to navigate a new country. Every driver and our tour guide was so nice and I feel like we made friends with all of them.
My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking classes and that every tour was private and intimate for my wife and I. The connections Zicasso’s travel agent hooked us up with made the trip the most memorable experience. Our travel agent and the travel company took special care of all the tiny details of the trip; our hotel knew it was my birthday and had a special surprise for me! I’m beyond thankful for the perfect honeymoon they provided my wife and I.
Reviewed By Branson S.
The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.
Reviewed By Claudia R.
The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.
Reviewed By Nisha V.
Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.
When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.
She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.
The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.
Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.
If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.
Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!
Stephanie
Reviewed By Stephanie S.
This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.
Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!
Reviewed By Mauro A.